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10 second ways to relieve stress during the holidays (or any other time of the year)!

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Every one knows that December is the typically the most stressful time of the year for most people. Recent studies have shown that a third of all Americans live with an unhealthy amount of stress on a regular basis and almost half say their stress level has increased during the last five years. Not only can stress turn you into the family Scrooge, it’s also a very unhealthy and unhappy way to live your life.

Here are some 10 second stress busters that you can do amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays courtesy of Women’s Day Magazine:

1.Drink Tea: Black tea has been shown to have an effect on stress hormone levels in the body. Researchers in England have found that people who drink black tea de-stress more quickly than those drinking a fake tea substitute. Tea contains catechins, polyphenols, flavonoids and amino acids that affect your brain’s neurotransmitters and ultimately reduce blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

2.Snack on your favorite nut: Next time you’re feeling stressed, forgo the junk food and snack on some nuts instead. Nuts are typically high in tryptophan and magnesium, two key nutrients that support serotonin production. And almonds are especially high in stress-busting B vitamins, zinc, vitamin E and antioxidants.

3.Rub your ears: Simply rub the circumference of each ear—right hand on right ear and left hand on left ear—to instantly ease tension.

4. Take a whiff of your favorite scent: Aromatherapy has calming effects that can tame the tension in no time. Proven stress-reducing aromas include lavender, lemon balm, chamomile and geranium.

5. Get some Vitamin C: Researchers at the University of Alabama say that vitamin C reduces the levels of stress hormones in the blood, which may alleviate the body’s response to stress. Studies suggest that 1,000 mg of vitamin C is most helpful.

6. Give yourself a Mini Massage: Put your left finger at the base of your skull, then move it down the width of one finger, and then move it to the left the width of one finger. Position your right finger in the same place on the right side. Press both points for one to three minutes. Another spot you can try is located four finger-widths below your kneecap and one finger-width to the outside of your shin. (You should feel a slight indentation.)

7. Eat Berries: Blueberries, blackberries and other berries contain some of nature’s most powerful antioxidants and are jam-packed with vitamin C, making them potent stress-busters. Stress causes the body to release free radicals—highly unstable oxygen molecules that can damage normal cells—and antioxidants help to neutralize those harmful molecules.

8. Strike a yoga pose: Folding your hands as if in prayer behind your back, then pulling your shoulders back, tilting your head back and breathing deeply will open up your chest and relieve built up tension from stress.

9. Stretch: If you aren’t quite flexible enough to bust out some yoga moves try this simple stretch. Sit in a chair with your left foot on the floor. Put your right ankle on your left knee and lean forward with a stretch. Hold it as far as you can go, then bend forward a bit more. Repeat on the other side.

10. Reframe your thoughts: “Reframing simply means putting a different context around the situation,” says Jay Winner, M.D., author of Take the Stress Out of Your Life. For example, Winner suggests thinking of time spent in a long line as a break from a busy day—a chance to relax your mind or meet someone new like the person standing next to you. A positive spin can counteract the stress-induced physiological changes that wreak havoc on your body.

11. Eat Complex Carbs: Complex carbohydrates boost serotonin levels and keep a heightened sense of calm and relaxation for a longer period of time. Target carbs include whole-grain foods and cereals—such as whole-grain breads, oats and brown rice—as well as legumes such as peas, beans and lentils.

12. Take 10: Brian Jump, multi-day tour sales manager for Arizona Outback Adventures, breaks the tension of his long days by doing 10 jumping jacks, push-ups or anything that gets the blood flowing through the body. “This helps to release endorphins, which are a natural stress reliever,” he says.

13. Laugh out loud: According to a University of California, Irvine study, even the expectation of a laugh boosts stress-busting hormones and increases hormones that induce relaxation—an effect that can last for up to 24 hours. Read a comic strip, check out the joke of the day or make funny faces in the mirror until you bust out with a belly laugh.

15. Savor the moment: Focus on what’s right in front of you, using your senses to connect with the environment. Dr. Winner suggests, for example, taking 10 seconds to smell the aroma of the food you’re eating and savor its taste. “Take a few steps and let go of thoughts, feeling the ground massaging your feet with each step,” he adds.

You may not always be able to do all of these simple stress busters but doing just one when the pressure is on is sure to get rid of a little tension. So go on! Bring some holiday cheer to your friends, family and yourself while your at it!